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Cowboys headed to playoffs with 42-7 win

Associated Press
Published 9:07 p.m. ET Dec. 21, 2014

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) carries the ball to score a touchdown Sunday on a pass from quarterback Tony Romo (not pictured) in the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Romo became the Dallas Cowboys’ all-time leading passer on the play, breaking Troy Aikman’s record.(Photo: TIM HEITMAN/USA TODAY SPORTS)

ARLINGTON, Texas – It won’t be the same old story for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas ended a four-year playoff drought Sunday in a dominating 42-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, with Romo throwing four touchdown passes and breaking Troy Aikman’s franchise record for yards passing.

The Cowboys (11-4) emphatically ended a three-game home losing streak, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions.

Dallas had an opening for its first NFC East title and postseason berth since 2009, and first under coach Jason Garrett, because of Philadelphia’s 27-24 loss at Washington on Saturday. The Eagles were eliminated with the Cowboys’ win.

The Colts (10-5) didn’t have much to play for with the AFC South title secured, and looked like it while barely avoiding their first shutout loss in 21 years.

The Cowboys had already ended their three-year rut of 8-8 finishes that included losses in finales that kept them out of the playoffs. But they had to keep winning to make sure they got in.

Tight end Jason Witten had a touchdown catch and 90 yards receiving to reach his 11th straight season with at least 600 yards. He had the memorable one-liner that it couldn’t be “the same old story” before training camp during the string of frustrating .500 finishes.

Then it kept being the same old story – until Sunday, when Dallas kept alive its hopes for a first-round bye as well.

Romo led scoring drives of 80 and 75 yards, the first ending on a 9-yard pass to Terrance Williams and the latter with a 24-yarder to Cole Beasley. He spun away from a shoulder tackle by D’Qwell Jackson and ran the final 13 yards to the end zone.

Coming off back surgery that kept him out of last year’s season-ending loss to the Eagles, and another back injury sustained against Washington in October, Romo had his fifth game with a passer rating of at least 135.

The 34-year-old in his eighth full season was 18 for 20 for 218 yards to put him at 32,971 for his career, 29 more than Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl winner. Romo was even Dallas’ leading rusher after the first quarter following two early scrambles for 21 yards.

NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray played with a broken left hand, but the Cowboys didn’t need much from him. He finished with 58 yards, with a 1-yard score.

With a home playoff game already in hand and little chance to get a first-round bye, Indianapolis sat receiver T.Y. Hilton (groin injury) and right tackle Gosder Cherilus.

Trailing 35-0 in the third quarter, Andrew Luck went to the bench in favor of Matt Hasselbeck as the Colts set season lows in points and total yards (229) for the second straight week. They had just 1 yard rushing.

Luck threw two interceptions.

Indianapolis had Dallas beaten on a fake punt after three straight running plays on its first possession. But a backpedaling Dewey McDonald, left uncovered on the outside, dropped punter Pat McAfee’s perfect throw.

On the next play, Romo threw 19 yards to Dez Bryant for a 14-0 lead.

The Colts’ Dwayne Allen had a pair of drops on passes that should have gained first downs before leaving with a knee injury. A holding penalty stalled a drive after Indianapolis finally got a first down with six minutes left in the first half.